The story behind Zzyzx Road in the Mojave Desert

Road trippers making the drive between Southern California and Las Vegas have probably noticed a very strange exit sign on Interstate 15.

What isn’t unusual is the somewhat random exit sign pointing out into the empty desert, with no building in sight. That’s a fairly common occurrence in the long, empty stretches of the Mojave Desert.

The highway exit sign is strange because of the spelling of the street name, Zzyzx Road. No, that’s not a typo. It’s the name of the street and just the beginning of this strange tourist story from the Mojave Desert.

History of Soda Springs

There are few natural bodies of water in the harsh environment of the Mojave Desert. One of these is the Soda Springs area, which was a water source for the Mohave and Chemehuevi people.

Later, it was a reliable water source in the desert used to quench the thirst of not only explorers passing through the region, but also many U.S. Army officers camping and patrolling in the desert.

But it would come to play an even more important role for tourists in the Mojave Desert in the 1940s.

Curtis Spranger’s Zzyzx resort

In the 1940s, Curtis Spranger made a big splash in the area with a mining claim and decided to build his own spa to attract Mojave travelers to stop in the area. He named the resort Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Resort.

He then appeared on air and trumpeted the health benefits of a vacation to Zzyzx Mineral Springs, proclaiming himself a doctor.

Hundreds of visitors made the pilgrimage to the spa and many more were sent ‘health-related’ items such as herbal tea and Hollywood Pep Cocktail instead.

According to the Mojave National Preserve, the nearby town of Baker had to build a post office to accommodate all of the resort’s mail.

In the late 1960s, tourists discovered his story and complaints against Spranger and his Zzyzx spa piled up. He was charged by the Food and Drug Administration with false claims and advertising. He was also in the crosshairs of the Internal Revenue Service for tax evasion.

He eventually spent some time in prison and then spent his final years in nearby Las Vegas.

Zzyzx Today

The faded glory of Zzyzx health resort has long since disappeared. But today it may be interesting for travelers on Interstate 15 between Southern California and Las Vegas to take a short side trip and discover what’s left today.

In 1976, California State University Fullerton started a desert research center at the site, which is now part of the Mojave National Preserve under the control of the National Park Service.

While visitors are welcome to hike and explore Lake Tuendae, the old Zzyzx resort buildings and grounds across the lake are still part of private property and are not open to tourists. However, it is a popular spot for bird watching.

Tips for travelers

Located about 100 miles southwest of Las Vegas, just off Interstate 15 between Southern California and Las Vegas, the former site of the Zzyzx spa can be a curious place to explore, although not much is actually open to tourists.

Travelers can visit Lake Tuendae and take a look at the spa across the lake. However, because the resort and nearby desert research center are off-limits for visitors to visit and explore, the highway exit sign leading to the 4.5-mile roadway may be just enough for curious Instagram tourists.